2016 T4

Question 1

What is moral relativism?

Answer 1

The belief of which moral rules and principles are dependent on the individual’s beliefs and the circumstances of a given situation.

Question 2

What is moral objectivism/absolutism?

Answer 2

The belief of which there is an objective and independent moral standard that applies to all people, in all places at all times.

Question 3

What is the Utilitarianism’s ethical theory?

Answer 3

It is the Greatest Happiness Principle, which states that an action is right (moral) if it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Question 4

What are the three main features of Utilitarianism?

Answer 4

1. Consequences
2. Utility
3. Maximisation

Question 5

What does the feature “consequences” in Utilitarianism mean?

Answer 5

The value (morality) of an action is based solely on its consequences - pleasure generated or the pain avoided. Intentions are irrelevant.

Question 6

What does the feature “utility” in Utilitarianism mean?

Answer 6

The pleasure generated and the pain avoided.

Utility: pleasure - pain

Question 7

What does the feature “maximisation” in Utilitarianism mean?

Answer 7

Maximise utility for the greatest number of people.

Question 8

What are the strengths of Utilitarianism?

Answer 8

• straightforward and natural
• everyone matters
• circumstantial

Question 9

What are the criticisms of Utilitarianism?

Answer 9

• difficulties of calculation
• unforeseeable consequences
• relevance of motives

Question 10

What is Kantian Ethics (Duty Ethics) (Kant’s Ethics)?

Answer 10

The action is moral when the inclinations are suppressed and obligations are done from a sense of duty.

Question 11

What is the categorical imperative?

Answer 11

Morality standard in Kant’s Ethics.

• the Principle of Universalisability
• treat everyone as an “end”, never as a “means”

Question 12

What does the “Principle of Universalisability” in Kant’s Ethics mean?

Answer 12

How would the action appear if it were to be a universal code of behaviour (everyone does it)?

Question 13

What does “treat everyone as an ‘end’ never as a ‘means’” in Kant’s Ethics mean?

Answer 13

No one should be used as a means to another person’s goals, no matter how noble these ends may be.

Question 14

What are the strengths of Kant’s Ethics?

Answer 14

• clarity of the Categorical Imperative
• encourages justice
• human rights (people are not used)

Question 15

What are the criticisms of Kant’s Ethics?

Answer 15

• consequences are totally irrelevant
• duty is only correct motive
• conflicts between duties
• submission to authority (what if authority is bad)?